Character: Duror

Character: Duror

Overview: Duror

• Duror is the gamekeeper of the estate; his job is to maintain the woodland and protect it from any external threat or damage.
• Duror’s obsession with the cone gatherers, particularly Calum, forms the central conflict of the novel.
• He is a complex character, marked by his physical disability and deep-seated resentment towards Calum.
• Duror’s bitterness and hatred eventually lead him down a path of destruction and madness.

Duror’s Relationship with Calum and Neil

• Duror sees Calum’s innocence and happiness, despite his physical deformity, as a mockery of his own misery.
• He goes to great lengths to discredit and hurt the brothers, culminating in tragedy.
• Neil, on the other hand, sees through Duror’s façade and is aware of his ill-intentions, marking a constant tension between them.

Duror’s Inner Turmoil and Hatred

• Duror’s inner life is marked by self-loathing and resentment, particularly towards his bedridden wife and Calum.
• His unpleasant relationship with his wife amplifies his psychological distress and shapes much of his anger towards Calum.
• The brothers’ presence in the wood, a place Duror views as his, exacerbates his hatred and sparks his urge to exile them.

Duror as a Symbol of Evil

• Duror represents the evil force in the novel; his destructive tendencies and obsessive hatred all contribute to his deteriorating mental health.
• He slowly loses touch with reality, ensuing chaos and disrupting the peace and order of the estate.
• The author uses Duror’s character to explore the themes of good and evil, social prejudice, and mental distress.

Duror’s character is an in-depth study of a man driven to the brink of madness due to his intense hatred and resentment. Understanding Duror’s motivations and frustrations is key to understanding the tragic arc of the narrative.